Let's get a little tipsy today with this simple word. You might just need a drink when we're done, though.

In America in the 1830s, OK came to life with a funny misspelling of 'all correct' — 'oll korrekt.'

Okay didn't arrive on the horizon until 1895.

**Associated Press recommends 'OK'

**Chicago Manual of Style recommends 'okay'

**New York Times uses 'O.K.'

**Lowercase 'ok' is just simply incorrect (based on my research)

I typically follow Chicago Manual of Style for MOST things. However, with the word OK or okay, I leave it to the discretion of the author... most of the time.

What's the key here?

CONSISTENCY

As an author, you need to decide how you want to spell it, and make sure you spell it the same throughout your writing.

I've now added OK, O.K., okay, and ok to my search list. Then, I base my decision on what is used most, but you only have a choice of two.

Yep! Here is where you might need a drink.

I will change them all to either be OK (capitalized) or okay. Not lowercase ok or O.K. with the periods. In my opinion, unless it is agreed upon prior to editing, OK and okay are both acceptable, but be consistent no matter what. And with this lesson, I have to remember that lowercase 'ok' is not OK! ;)